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Thursday, December 1, 2016

I'm a writer, so this is more than book bellyaching. In days, I'll be free of demons or a clingy child, or maybe both: an attention hog, devil child. Aka a story. Have you been there? If not, let me say, each time is the first time when an author receives a proof. It's a roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows.

Sure, the ebook is already out. Yet I'm diving into the world of formatting sleek interiors. Note to self: THIS IS NOT EASY! Createspace has rules and for a ruler breaker it was time to up my game. The interior is very 'purdy' and the hot stud on the cover is about to get a run for his money. Here's a PDF of the cover for Breaking a Bad Boy.
Still... regardless of how immediate an ebook is, there's a weight to the written word. If you ascribe to the full-length novel, then more is more. My stories are bricks. And hey, not for nothing, could be used as a book stop or a weapon if thrown just right. But I do love them, bloodsuckers, soul suffered creations.
How to go from zero to insane in six seconds? Inbox email reads: the proof is on the way! This is the moment, right before separation. NASA countdown. It's hard to be objective, good God is it hard.

Reflective, too. A writer writes alone, lives alone within a story world, and kinda dies alone at the end. It's bittersweet and part of the process of birthing a book. Whether this is your first time at bat or not, there's a head rush in doing a face-off with a print copy of a manuscript. The birth of a book is real in a way that can only be understood by those who've walked the walk. That isn't pretentious BS, it's simply a truth and a pinnacle. Sure, anyone can write. No big deal. As the saying goes, just sit down and open a vein.

Come Dec 8, I'll step back, severing the cord, saying a silent goodbye as a horde of characters leave the nest. This isn't the moment to rest on one's laurels. Suck it up.
Why?
Before an author can say, 'Adios' and safe travels, as gatekeepers, we've got a few duties. In days, I'll have the proof for Breaking a Bad Boy. Before hitting 'approved,' there is a STRUCTURED routine to follow. A surefire set of steps for success, a writer's dance and I'll share how it goes. Stay tuned as I pop the box and hit the ground as published, again. Up next: How to birth a book, proof the proof.

Grabbing hold of the pad, she knitted her brows as she
read. Agreement Contract. Rule: What
Brandon McLemore deems appropriate stands and Mia Santero will follow. With
two signature lines below it. “Wait.
Are you nuts?”

“I think that rule covers everything that will go on
between us.”

“That rule isn’t a rule. It’s a diktat. How am I
supposed to abide by a command that gives you complete freedom and authority to
do as you see fit? You’ll have all the power. Over me.”

“Little researcher, you asked if I’m good,” he began,
incrementally closing the distance between them. The power he exuded stole the
thoughts right from her brain. His gaze dipped to her mouth, then rebounded to
her eyes. “Darlin’, I’m not good. I’m a machine. I like it rough, raw, and I
don’t hold back. I’ll make it my job to know what you want, but more
importantly, what you need. There’s a huge difference, and that’s what
distinguishes who commands and who pretends. I don’t pretend.”

“But…” She swallowed, believing every word he’d said.
“You’d have to pretend with me.”

He reached out and cupped her chin in his warm hand. “No,
I won’t. That’s not what you need for this project or otherwise.”

“Then what will you do?” Her body hummed from the heat
in his eyes. “I need to be certain I know what to expect.”

“That’s fair,” he murmured. “We can both get what we
want. You want privacy and so do I. Out
there. But when we’re alone, there won’t be any games.”

“Don’t crucify me because of last night. I said—”

“I’m not.” He held her gaze. “But I expect you to be
honest with me. Can you?”

Could she? “I think so.” She
glanced down, pondering what it might entail.

“You aren’t sure?” he growled.

She jerked her attention to him. “That isn’t what I
said. I want to be honest with you and I will. Completely transparent!” Under
his brooding glare, she twisted her fingers, waiting for him to say something.

“Mia, I’ll give you everything you need, until you tell
me to stop. Between you and me, there’s something brewing. You said you wanted
to be honest. Then let’s. I could fuck you right now! God knows, I’d like to.
Eventually, I’m going to spread your legs, lick and suck on your clit. Baby, I’m
going to make you come like you’ve never come before. And that’s a promise I
intend on keeping. So if you return tonight, I’ll be here. But you’d better
come back knowing the truth. In short order, I’m going to have you under me as
I bury my cock inside you for hours. My name will spill from those luscious
lips of yours, and it won’t be pretend.”

Brandon crushed his mouth
against hers. He nipped her bottom lip before tracing the seam of her mouth
with his hot wet tongue.

In truth, he's smoke & mirrors. A sham. Atticus is broken. He's done enough to require a bodyguard. Stone doesn't pretend to be a saint. That would be his uncle.

Stone's a congressman with a taste for dirty, dark... hair-pulling action. He's met his match in a woman who has secrets to hide. Phoenix X O'Malley hails from a family running a savage game to win at any cost. Beware of pastels and pearls and a summer on the Cape. It's a prison sentence to 'X' and one she's about to escape.

Powerful people will topple. Dynasties will battle like Titans. When the dust clears, the truth will hobble a nation.

Make no mistake, there's only one SENATOR series. It's Dirty Little Secrets all grown up into a true romance suspense series.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

A rancher on a mission.
A dance teacher ready to settle a score.
Together they're flint and fuel.

HER FOREVER COWBOY
Love tastes sweeter a second time

but cuts twice as deep.

Stephen McLemore and Jillian Sinclair star in this paint-peeling romance.

He walked away when she was too young to claim.

She fueled his success and taught him to feel again.

Her Forever Cowboy
Book #1 Bad Boys Western Romance

“No excuses,” he chided
her. “A promise is a promise. And I’m a man of my word.”

Surely, he didn’t mean. “But—” It happened so
fast. “Let me go!” She tugged on his arm, lurching upright off his lap. Not
easy with one good hand.

He didn’t utter a word
of warning—not unless a grunt counted. He flipped her over and delivered a
red-hot rebuttal: two powerful spanks. Moisture filmed her eyes as she squirmed
on his lap. He held her in place as her skin radiated and she felt his hand
caress her bottom.

“Now,” Stephen
murmured. “Do I have your full attention?”

“What are you after?” she asked.

“Sugar, you know what I
want.” He rubbed his hand slowly over her flaming rear-end. “What do we need?
That might be the bigger issue. And it’s something only you can give.”

Captivated by the erotic
desire he built within her, Jillian closed her eyes, giving into his ability to
command her body, mind, and soul. He was right. Why was she fighting? Trust me. His words. Opening her eyes,
she met his penetrating stare and practically squeaked, “Trust?”

“Yep and I’m only
asking this once. Either you’re in or out, Sinclair. Do you trust me?”

With a hundred years of ranching on the line, Stephen McLemore dove into his career as an explosives engineer. After achieving wealth, power, prestige, he's ready to make his move. He walked away from love, but he never forgot the girl of his dreams. At the time, Jillian Sinclair was 16, a hot mess, and hands-off. Eight years later, is it coincidence or a case of meticulous plotting that brings Jillian face-to-face with the cowboy who kissed her and left? It might not matter. She's grown up, ticked-off, and prepared to settle a score.

Within a family crisis, Stephen and Jillian are powerless to fight their raw desire. From a smolder, their intense attraction combusts. They can't deny that love tastes sweeter the second time. But life throws a curve ball into Stephen's goals. Hollywood comes knocking on Jillian's door with an offer to star in a reality dance TV show.

Be careful what you wish for... There's a very secret, private, and controlling side of the second eldest of the hardcore cattle ranching brothers from Evermore. How far will Stephen go?

The ultimate sacrifice cuts deep. Jillian's once in a lifetime opportunity might be this cowboy's undoing.

A raw passionate, second chance love story that explores the depth of forgiveness and sacrifice, loyalty and trust.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

If an alpha male cowboy lights your fire, you’ve come to the right ranch.

On the block we've got Stephen McLemore and Jillian Sinclair.

Her Forever Cowboy by Susan ArdenBad Boys Western Romance Book #1

This bad boy pulls out all the stops to prove love tastes sweeter the second time!Dream Cast: CHARLIE HUNNAM as STEPHEN MCLEMORE

a Charlie Hunnam moment

AND

EMILIA CLARKE as JILLIAN SINCLAIR

Emilia is so funny, lovely, and outrageous!

Love her!

Dream Cast Emilia Clarke as Jillian Sinclair ~ Her Forever Cowboy

SEXY COWBOY TEASER

She had her cell phone cradled to her ear and he
closed the distance between them, plucking the phone from her hand. That close
to her, he fought the urge to do more than take hold of her cell. She stood on
her tiptoes, stretching her arm up as he raised his own to keep her cell beyond
her hellcat reach.

“Excuse me. Are you mental! Give it back.”

Dangling her phone just out of her reach brought both
of them closer. Within striking distance and their eyes locked. It was like a
bolt of white-lightening tore through him. Her pupils dilated as she stared up
at him—she must’ve felt something too. Between them something besides anger
boiled. Raw and undefinable. Intense.

“Jill, tell me. What are you doing, darlin’?”

The way she held his gaze without speaking as her
lashes fluttered incrementally hooked him.

“Stephen, I was only checking my messages.”

Hearing her speak his name after all these years and
without the cutting undertone prompted him to step closer. The heat radiating from
her tight body warmed his skin only outdone by the fire emanating from her
green eyes.

“Not calling for backup?”

“As if I’d need help in dealing with you. Get real and
give it back!” She grabbed her phone and their bodies collided.

Letting go of the cell, he reached for her, molding
his hands over her hips that fit perfect between his palms. “Tell me the truth,
we didn’t do anything?”

“Like what, Stephen?” she sassed him.

He stared down at her, painfully reminded how she had
the power to arouse feelings in him. “Anything besides sleep?”

“Why? Afraid of a repeat performance. Is that why
you’re hotfooting?” A sliver of pain lanced her eyes, then it was gone.

His gaze lowered to her mouth. Had it really been
years—almost ten—since he’d last sampled more than her backtalk. Her lips were
just as pink and plump as he recalled.

Back then she’d been
in high school and grieving the loss of her parents. He’d wanted to close the
deal on the land as well as comfort Jill, and had ended up kissing her. Tasted
her sweetness, her innocence, and had backed away before they’d gone farther.
And Christ, he’d wanted to. No woman had ever tempted or tormented him as this
one. Now their age difference wasn’t what set off the sirens that blared in his
mind. Christ Almighty there had to be a hundred going off all at once.

Smoke and mirrors. With a hundred years of ranching on the line, Stephen McLemore dove into his career as an explosives engineer. After achieving wealth, power, prestige, he’s ready to make his move. He walked away from love, but he never forgot the girl of his dreams.

At the time, Jillian Sinclair was 16, a hot mess, and hands-off. Eight years later, is it coincidence or a case of meticulous plotting that brings Jillian face-to-face with the boy who kissed her and left? It might not matter. She’s grown up, ticked-off, and prepared to settle a score.

In tandem, they’re flint and gasoline. Within a family crisis, Stephen and Jillian are powerless to fight their raw desire.

From a smolder, their intense attraction combusts. They can’t deny that love

tastes sweeter the second time. But life throws a curve ball into Stephen’s goals. Hollywood comes knocking on Jillian’s door with an offer to star in a reality dance TV show.

Be careful what you wish for…

There’s a very secret, private, and controlling side of the second eldest of the hardcore cattle ranching brothers from Evermore. How far will Stephen go?

The ultimate sacrifice cuts deep.

Jillian’s once in a lifetime opportunity might be this cowboy’s undoing.

A raw passionate, second chance love story

that explores the depth of forgiveness and sacrifice, loyalty and trust.

Her Forever Cowboy

by Susan Arden

International Bestselling Author

Bad Boys Western Romance Series(Eight Stand Alone Stories)

Bestselling Series Ranked #1 for several sub genre categories

including Sports, Contemporary Romance, Western, Humor, Suspense and some after dark romances are top sellers for erotica

Monday, July 18, 2016

Writing romance is both a study in the old and new. Authors don't
sit down with the expectation of writing the entire enchilada. As such, an author targets a point, and lays down a story scene by scene. Each a mini-story, a defining point in time.

Tip-tapping, an author paints a multitude of canvases.Readers look for similar stories based on writer style, genre, and plot. No surprise.

On the flip side, writers cultivate ideas to infuse a scene so that even the ordinary becomes sublime. Tick-tock and the point!

Harvesting moments that are funny, energize both an author and a WIP (work in progress). The process isn't difficult but sometimes, simplicity can seem elusive.

Don't despair. Writing romance doesn't require a trip abroad to become inspired. Really it's an exercise in being open. And seeing the funny side of something commonplace and envisioning 'the what if..." Ideas can be cultivated by happenstance.

Here's the one I latched onto and want to share. Today I just happened to read:

6 Rules Every Wedding Guest in 2016 Should Know by Jen Glantz

Immediately, I thought about how funny it would be if guests from different generations, talked and pondered over the evolution of weddings. The method in play:In reading an article or blog post, or listening to the news or overhearing a conversation, bring a comedian with you. Use a favorite personality in creative ways to recharge a scene. you're about to write or re-write. Channel the voice of say Dave Chappell, Amy Schumer, or my favorite Melissa
McCarthy as the characters into a 'what if...' situation.

There's
a goldmine out there to excavate lots of ideas to create novel situations. No need to tackle the whole book. Remember we're only interested in making the immediate scene better than good. In
crafting a story, torque it by including a funny moment or two to showcase characters. All it takes is tweaking an everyday scene into overdrive.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

“No excuses,” he chided
her. “A promise is a promise. And I’m a man of my word.”

Surely, he didn’t mean. “But—” It happened so
fast. “Let me go!” She tugged on his arm, lurching upright off his lap. Not
easy with one good hand.

He didn’t utter a word
of warning—not unless a grunt counted. He flipped her over and delivered a
red-hot rebuttal: two powerful spanks. Moisture filmed her eyes as she squirmed
on his lap. He held her in place as her skin radiated and she felt his hand
caress her bottom.

“Now,” Stephen
murmured. “Do I have your full attention?”

“What are you after?” she asked.

“Sugar, you know what I
want.” He rubbed his hand slowly over her flaming rear-end. “What do we need?
That might be the bigger issue. And it’s something only you can give.”

Captivated by the erotic
desire he built within her, Jillian closed her eyes, giving into his ability to
command her body, mind, and soul. He was right. Why was she fighting? Trust me. His words. Opening her eyes,
she met his penetrating stare and practically squeaked, “Trust?”

“Yep and I’m only
asking this once. Either you’re in or out, Sinclair. Do you trust me?”

With a hundred years of ranching on the line, Stephen McLemore dove into his career as an explosives engineer. After achieving wealth, power, prestige, he's ready to make his move. He walked away from love, but he never forgot the girl of his dreams. At the time, Jillian Sinclair was 16, a hot mess, and hands-off. Eight years later, is it coincidence or a case of meticulous plotting that brings Jillian face-to-face with the cowboy who kissed her and left? It might not matter. She's grown up, ticked-off, and prepared to settle a score.

Within a family crisis, Stephen and Jillian are powerless to fight their raw desire. From a smolder, their intense attraction combusts. They can't deny that love tastes sweeter the second time. But life throws a curve ball into Stephen's goals. Hollywood comes knocking on Jillian's door with an offer to star in a reality dance TV show.

Be careful what you wish for... There's a very secret, private, and controlling side of the second eldest of the hardcore cattle ranching brothers from Evermore. How far will Stephen go?

The ultimate sacrifice cuts deep. Jillian's once in a lifetime opportunity might be this cowboy's undoing.

A raw passionate, second chance love story that explores the depth of forgiveness and sacrifice, loyalty and trust.

The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety.Treatment includes different types of psychotherapy as well as medications to manage depression and anxiety.

Vanity Fair published an article in June 2015 entitled PTSD: The War Disorder regarding how we're striping ourselves bare from the inside out. Check it out. http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/05/ptsd-war-home-sebastian-junger

Romance Raises Awareness and Funds to Help: Big round of applause to romance readers! From the sales of Too Hot, so far, we've raised and donated over $400 to Semper Fi Fund.

Last book in the Bad Boys Western Romance series, Too Hot To Handle is about two Marine vets who are brothers who have been through the wringer. It's a Western at heart but so much more. It has a bite. Too Hot has the framework of a military romance with an edge. Why? War isn't pretty.

But hope is and that's what the core of a story about two souls finding each other under all the shadows, veils, scars, and luggage hauled around.

Hope this short blog postopened your eyes and your heart!

If you or someone you love has PTSD symptoms, please seek professional medical treatment. Or if you'd like more information, checkout ADAAhttp://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/symptoms

Add to GR~ Best Seller Ranked #1 Erotica on Amazon

Weaving tales of love that dissolve barriers

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